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Temperantia (Temperance) The fruit of the Spirit is temperance Set amid the desert landscape of early 1800s southern Arizona, this artwork honors the virtue Temperantia (Temperance)—the quiet strength of balance and harmony. It reflects the Mexican era of Tubac, a formative time after Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821. In the background stands Mission San José de Tumacácori, one of Arizona’s oldest and most important landmarks. Founded in 1691 by Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino, it became a cornerstone of faith and culture in the region. Under Mexican rule, Tumacácori remained a spiritual center for local families, even as reduced resources and Apache raids brought hardship. In 1752, Tubac was established as a presidio and later became part of the Mexican state of Sonora. Together, the mission and town reflected Mexico’s commitment to building strong communities in the far northern frontier. At the center stands a regal woman in an elegant 19th-century Mexican dress. Her embroidered skirt symbolizes the union of Indigenous, Spanish, and Mexican traditions that gave Arizona its roots. Around her, desert life flourishes with state symbols: the saguaro blossom blooms with resilience; the cactus wren sings with resourcefulness; and the two-tailed swallowtail drifts gracefully across the scene. A desert tortoise and javelina at her feet reflect endurance. Corn, chiles, and prickly pear honor the land’s generosity and the Mexican families who cultivated it. Above, a Harris’s hawk soars through dramatic skies, symbolizing focus and harmony. Together, Tubac and Tumacácori remind us that Mexico’s presence shaped southern Arizona with faith, resilience, and community, a legacy still deeply felt today. At the heart of this scene is the enduring truth from Galatians 5:22–23: “The fruit of the Spirit is temperance.”